On Oct. 29, the organization TRIO Upward Bound is hosting an event at Baldwin Wallace University called “A Day in the Life of a College Student” where first-generation, low-income students from different districts can experience for the first time what it’s like to be a college student.
Students from different high schools will get to learn about classes, go on a campus tour, participate in a student panel, and shadow BW students to get a glimpse of what college education is really like.
“Over the past 50 years, Upward Bound has been maintaining a high level of successful college preparation programs, academic instruction, tutoring, counseling and advising” said Nancie Somrak, administrative specialist of TRIO Upward Bound at BW. “It has been a significant factor in encouraging Cleveland students to achieve a meaningful high school experience and pursuing a higher education.”
The program has had a tangible impact on the lives of past students who have participated. Somrak described one student she remembered who met his now wife during the program, and who said the program really helped him.
“He said to me, ‘I didn’t know it was helping back then, but looking back, it gave me the life skills I needed to pursue the career and family I wanted,’” Somrak said.
Upward Bound has data to back up its success as well. The program has a database that allows them to submit annual reports that are sent back to the Department of Education. This data is analyzed to see if it meets the criteria to get grants. Time and time again, it has met that criteria.
The program Upward Bound was started in 1968 by President Lyndon Johnson as he fought to make sure that students could afford schooling, which gave legislation to the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, which was moved up to Title IV of the Higher Education Act.
The goal is to provide educational opportunities for all students regardless of race, ethnicity, or economic background. At BW, former President A.B Bonds helped start the program and largely dedicated it to helping low-income teens with a grant allowing students to gain access to education and resources. Then, in the 1980s, the program was funded to help high schools all over the Cleveland area.
The Upward Bound Program also offers services like after school tutoring, counseling, recreational activities, and instruction in the English and STEM fields, and it has done so for decades.
The service is funded to serve 105 high school students, and there is no cost to the students themselves. College students who help out in the program can potentially earn a small stipend as well.
For any questions or information, contact [email protected].
